Requirement of the CD8+ or CD4+ T lymphocyte subsets for the rejection of lymphoma and fibrosarcoma grafts studied in gene knockout hosts

Immunol Lett. 1998 Apr;61(2-3):187-90. doi: 10.1016/s0165-2478(98)00022-4.

Abstract

Rejections of the retrovirus induced lymphomas (ALC and RBL-5) and the methylcholanthrene (MCA) induced fibrosarcoma (MC57X) grafts were tested in syngeneic CD8 and CD4 single and double knockout C57BL/6 mice. The results with the lymphomas showed that the CD8+ T cell deficiency prevented the development of rejection response induced by immunization. Deficiency of the CD4+ T subset abrogated also the rejection of ALC. Immunity against the fibrosarcoma cells developed in both type of single knockout mice, but not in the ones which lacked both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Thus CD8+ T cells were required for rejection of the lymphoma cells, while the CD4+ T cells only mediated a weak response. In absence of CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells were sufficient to reject the fibrosarcoma cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Carcinogens / administration & dosage
  • Cell Transplantation
  • Female
  • Fibrosarcoma / immunology*
  • Graft Rejection / immunology*
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / immunology*
  • Male
  • Methylcholanthrene / administration & dosage
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Rauscher Virus / physiology

Substances

  • Carcinogens
  • Methylcholanthrene